Las Vegas Review-Journal - Opinion

In this story, a disgruntled former competitor to Dr. Desai is allowed to make allegations and accusations without providing any evidence to substantiate the same. In fact, he is reported to have said that I am behind an attorney general dismissal of his complaint against Dr. Desai. This is printed despite his acknowledgement that he cannot cite any evidence to support that statement.

The elected attorney general states "unequivocally" it did not happen. And the deputy attorney general says his investigators were "bulldogs" and did not cut Desai any slack. He also said his only conversation with me was after the case was over.

As I told the reporter, I checked with the Board of Medical Examiners, who verified there was no indication I had spoken to anyone about this allegation, and that the law firm records indicate that Desai was not a client. I was no doubt copied after the fact as a courtesy, since I had asked about the status after it had been completed.

Nothing I did is inappropriate, nor does anyone, including the complaining Dr. Cohen, offer any proof to the contrary. So, I am perplexed as to why it is appropriate to allow someone to try to damage my reputation as well as those of the attorney general and her staff, based on one person's totally unsubstantiated statement.

Responsible journalism should be based on fact, not totally false and unmerited allegations.

BOB MILLER

LAS VEGAS

THE WRITER IS A FORMER GOVERNOR OF NEVADA.

Off limits

To the editor:

In regard to restricting public land use: When is somebody going to consider the disabled Americans? We like to hunt and fish and those of us who can't backpack and walk for miles still like the outdoors. A lot of the areas they are declaring wilderness have never been used by anyone but hunters, fishermen, cowboys and sheepherders. The areas I used to hunt are all being declared wilderness and are of no use to disabled people. I can't get within three miles of where I killed my last cow elk, so this year I didn't even buy a hunting license or put in for a tag.

Richard J. Ernest

LAS VEGAS

Visual pollution

To the editor:

On Monday I read the article "Sex in the Library! Say it Ain't So." It told how adult library patrons are permitted to view pornography on library computers, even while mothers with small children pass by. On Wednesday I was visiting the library with my baby. He got fussy, and we were asked to leave. I felt embarrassed and vowed not to take him there again until he was older.

Then I started thinking about our senses and how there are rules everywhere in public places that are designed to protect us from various forms of pollution. Smoking in the library -- air pollution. Screaming babies -- noise pollution. Pornography -- a visual pollution with profound effects and huge controversy. In the case of smoking and screaming, the offender has to stop or leave. In the case of pornography, nothing is said -- yet.

People must be moral when they consider others. Moral people don't need to have the object taken away. They can enter the library with a pack in their pockets and not smoke. They can monitor their noise level or respectfully respond to a reminder. They can choose not to view pornography on an unfiltered, public computer.

Sadly, society is plagued with immoral people who stir up fear and controversy. It takes courage to stand up against such behavior. Without such courage, the visual pollution of pornography will continue to be a threat to our youth in public libraries.

JILL CRIST

LAS VEGAS

Fast action

To the editor:

I read with interest Steve Tetreault's article "Porter studies federal land plan," but I was disappointed that Rep. Jon Porter "is considering the proposal but probably will not decide soon whether to embrace the plan that calls for upgrading wilderness designations in the 344,400-acre Gold Butte region."

The time for talking is over -- it is now time to act. With every passing month, more off-road vehicles careen across pristine landscapes damaging archaeological sites, wildlife, plants and other resources. There is a plan now, the Mesquite Airport bill, that could be used to fast-track a Gold Butte bill setting aside conservation and wilderness areas while protecting the rights of off-highway vehicle users.

Now is the time to act.

Jim Boone

LAS VEGAS

Taxpayer friend

To the editor:

Why does everyone hate Gov. Jim Gibbons, except the taxpayers?

The simple answer is because he is the only one who refuses to raise taxes.

Everyone else is trying to destroy the governor because he is keeping his word not to raise taxes.

The Democrat legislators are angry; the curmudgeon, Jim Rogers, is angry; the schools are angry; the teachers are angry; Kenny Guinn is angry; Oscar Goodman is angry; all of the unions are angry; the journalists are angry; the Las Vegas City Council is angry; the County Commission is angry; the hotel/casinos are angry (7 percent taxes here, 40 percent in Macau); the convention and visitors authority is angry; and Dawn Gibbons is angry. Good.

We are the sixth-highest taxed state of all the 50 states When is enough, enough? Thank goodness we have Gov. Jim Gibbons. No one else is looking out for us, the taxpayers.

DAN CULBERT

LAS VEGAS